Teacher training workshop

The Potomac Valley Audubon Society will hold a special workshop December 6 to train area teachers and volunteers to present a new education program that focuses on bird conservation.

The workshop will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the National Conservation Training Center outside Shepherdstown.

The new education program, called "Flying WILD," has been developed by the Council for Environmental Education.

The program is designed to introduce upper elementary- and middle-school students to bird conservation through standards-based classroom activities and environmental stewardship projects. It encourages schools to work closely with conservation organizations, community groups, and businesses involved with birds to implement school bird festivals and bird conservation projects. This program is similar to the well-known Project WILD and Project Learning Tree curricula, but focuses on migratory birds.

Each participant will receive a Flying WILD educator's guide and training on specific ways to use the curriculum in the school classroom.

While the training is aimed at upper elementary- and middle-school teachers, it also provides elective hours for West Virginia Master Naturalist candidates and is open to interested volunteers.

To register, contact Ellen Murphy at 304-676-8739 by December 4. Registration is limited.